Compare and Complaint

Joined a praise and worship session led by Heartbeat, a band newly formed by my BJ friends. The session triggered me to think how easily I get frustrated from time to time. It could be about anything – matters as trivial as meeting an impolite taxi driver and as serious as unable to get things done in the way you want.

The most serious frustrations is from comparison. Sometimes I feel disgruntled, asking why other people are living far better off while I work for long hours a day. Why some people live in a big house while I can only rent a tiny apartment? Where is justice and fairness? Why can't I find a right job and have a good wife?

The band read out a story which creation is based on Psalms 73.

Here are Psalms 73 – from the Message. (Note: The Message tries to explain the content of the Bible through vivid examples of daily life experience. But it is NOT an official Bible. For traditional version, please go to http://www.o-bible.com/cgibin/ob.cgi?version=kjv&book=psa&chapter=73)
Psalm 73
An Asaph Psalm

1-5 No doubt about it! God is good— good to good people, good to the good-hearted.
But I nearly missed it,
missed seeing his goodness.
I was looking the other way,
looking up to the people
At the top,
envying the wicked who have it made,
Who have nothing to worry about,
not a care in the whole wide world.

6-10 Pretentious with arrogance,
they wear the latest fashions in violence,
Pampered and overfed,
decked out in silk bows of silliness.
They jeer, using words to kill;
they bully their way with words.
They're full of hot air,
loudmouths disturbing the peace.
People actually listen to them—can you believe it?
Like thirsty puppies, they lap up their words.

11-14 What's going on here? Is God out to lunch?
Nobody's tending the store.
The wicked get by with everything;
they have it made, piling up riches.
I've been stupid to play by the rules;
what has it gotten me?
A long run of bad luck, that's what—
a slap in the face every time I walk out the door.

15-20 If I'd have given in and talked like this,
I would have betrayed your dear children.
Still, when I tried to figure it out,
all I got was a splitting headache . . .
Until I entered the sanctuary of God.
Then I saw the whole picture:
The slippery road you've put them on,
with a final crash in a ditch of delusions.
In the blink of an eye, disaster!
A blind curve in the dark, and—nightmare!
We wake up and rub our eyes....Nothing.
There's nothing to them. And there never was.

21-24 When I was beleaguered and bitter,
totally consumed by envy,
I was totally ignorant, a dumb ox
in your very presence.
I'm still in your presence,
but you've taken my hand.
You wisely and tenderly lead me,
and then you bless me.

25-28 You're all I want in heaven!
You're all I want on earth!
When my skin sags and my bones get brittle,
God is rock-firm and faithful.
Look! Those who left you are falling apart!
Deserters, they'll never be heard from again.
But I'm in the very presence of God—
oh, how refreshing it is!
I've made Lord God my home.
God, I'm telling the world what you do!

The author David is frustrated with what's happening around him. He knows God is good and God loves people, but he missed the goodness of God because of all the injustice in the world. Is God sleeping? If not, why does God turn a deaf ear to the people who are truly in need but give prosperous life to those wicked people?

But David changed his perception and gained new insights after “entering the sanctuary of God”. He knows God has his plan for every one of us, and he will not dump those who love him. God knows all the injustice happening here, and he will handle it one day.

What have I learned after entering the sanctuary of God? I think the crux to stop my frustration is to appreciate and stop comparing myself with other people. Yes, some people seems to be very talented who can coordinate things well and be a good leader, and some people are richer than me. I would be in financial trouble if I lose my job, while some people does not need to do anything for a living.

But I do appreciate what I have and what God has given me. God has a plan for every one of us, and he treasures each one of us. God provides us what we need.

Lets take a look at Matthew 6:26 (again, from the Message)

Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.

Yes, I am not making much money and I don't have much savings after paying my rent, family and church, but the provision of God is abundance. Yes, sometimes I face difficult situations at work and I got worried about many things, but God gives me peace because I know he will lead me through the challenge.

Having said that, I don't mean God will take away all our problems. People still get sick and die, but God gives us peace to face difficult times.